New Boaz business draws in families

January 6, 2013

BOAZ - A new play area has opened for kids of all ages to let their hair down and have fun.

Kangaroo Kids Bounce House opened near Keller Lane and West Virginia 14 in the small strip mall in November with indoor inflatables, a 70-foot obstacle course and a train set for kids wanting to take a break, said co-owner David Kelley. The arcade area of the facility opened last month with more than 20 games.

"It is important to us that this business is for families and about families," said co-owner Shauna Kelley, who is married to John Kelley, David Kelley's brother. "It is family owned and our goal is to have a family center where teenagers and really young kids can have fun together with their parents."

Article Photos

Kangaroo Kids Bounce House in Boaz owners, from left, Shauna Kelley – holding daughter Lilly, 1 – with husband John Kelley and his brother David Kelley pose in the arcade of the business, which has been created to give not only children but also parents a place to have fun.

Photo by Jolene CraigThe Kangaroo Kids Bounce House in Boaz has 24 arcade games that include air hockey, quarter drops and basketball with the capacity for more than 30 as the business grows.

The facility is open to individuals and is available for party rentals with the bounce houses recommended for children between the ages of 1- and 11-years-old and the arcade games, which include a pool table, air hockey and others being open for everyone.

"Since we opened we have had a few parties, including one with the Vienna prekindergarten class of 38 kids," said David Kelley. "That was a lot of fun with all those kids running around."

For kids to play in the bounce houses, parents must sign a liability waiver. David Kelley added there is always one or more employees watching the kids at play to stop them if there are potential problems.

"Even if parents are watching them, so are we, just to make sure no one gets hurt," he said. "If there are only a couple of kids playing and the more kids, the more employees are watching."

While the business celebrated its grand opening on Saturday, the Kelley family is looking to the future of the bounce house.

"We are planning to expand in the near future with possibly two more sections," said David Kelley.

John Kelley said the section he is most looking forward to and hopes to open first will be the pizzaria.

"We want to offer pizza, subs and things like that so this will be a place for families to come, have dinner and play to give them a fun night," he said.

The other area will be an adults only place with gambling machines and possibly alcohol.

"Really, I wanted to create a place that kids could let loose in," said John Kelley. "Since the arcade and inflatables place in the mall closed, there is nothing like this in the area and I wanted to fill that void.